Michael Tortorich: Change has come to America

Friday

Jan 23, 2009 at 12:01 AMJan 23, 2009 at 11:02 PM

History unfolded in front of us this week. Barack Obama slowly walked down the stairs with George W. Bush at his side, their wives, Michelle Obama and Laura Bush, followed and took their places at their sides.

Michael Tortorich

History unfolded in front of us this week.

Barack Obama slowly walked down the stairs with George W. Bush at his side, their wives, Michelle Obama and Laura Bush, followed and took their places at their sides.

“Look at that picture, look at that image,” said MSNBC anchor Keith Olbermann.

It was quite a striking image indeed. One that many wondered if they would ever see in their lifetimes, that of a black couple moving into the White House.

The historic transfer has taken place, and there was nothing routine about this ceremonial hand-off of power.

The outstanding significance of electing the first black president in our nation’s history cannot be discussed enough. Whether we fully realize it or not, this momentous event affects every American and will certainly find its rightful play in our collective history.

Hopefully now we can finally bury the last shameful vestiges of racism that plagued our past. May this be a turning point for society to truly practice what we preach when we say all are equal.

While we have come a long way over the years, we still do not live in a perfect world. Just as we promise to never forget 9/11, we must not ever forget the wrongs of the past.

Obama has potential to be an extraordinary president. He has his work cut out for him and four years to impress us. Humble as he may be, Obama owes his tremendous opportunity to the many brave men and women who have fought for equality of all people.

If only Medgar Evers could have seen the day when a black man put his hand on the same Bible as Abraham Lincoln and took the oath to be president. Evers was a civil rights activist who bravely spoke out against the racism he experienced, knowing his life was at risk. On June 12, 1963, he was shot in his own driveway and later died. A Ku Klux Klan member, Byron De La Beckwith, eventually was convicted of the murder in 1994.

If only Martin Luther King Jr. could have seen the day when a black couple and their two young daughters took up residence in the White House. Just the day before the inauguration, we paused to reflect on the leadership of King through the civil rights movement. On April 4, 1968, King was shot. Even in death, the messages of men like Evers and King could not be silenced.

If only Rosa Parks could see the day when a black man with kind eyes like hers would win the hearts of millions of Americans.

There are an untold number of others, many who have suffered in silence, who literally gave their lives for our society to reach this point. No matter the color of our skin, we have all a giant step toward equality.

King had a dream in a time that for many was a nightmare. He had a dream that one day we would see such a day. Many people who have come before certainly made that day possible.